The proposed bill, HB2621, declares the trafficking of fentanyl across the Arizona border a public health crisis and mandates the Department of Health Services (DHS) to take all necessary actions to address this issue. It establishes a public policy aimed at protecting Arizona from drug cartels that threaten public safety, health, or general welfare. The bill also emphasizes the need for Arizona law to be interpreted in a way that safeguards the state's sovereign authority against unlawful invasions at the Arizona-Mexico border.

Key definitions introduced in the bill include "drug cartel," which refers to associations involved in human smuggling, trafficking of lethal drugs, or acts of terrorism, and "unlawful invasion," defined as the illicit activities of a drug cartel. The bill highlights the dangers posed by the federal government's failure to secure the border and asserts that overdose deaths from synthetic opioids are primarily driven by illegally manufactured fentanyl. Overall, the bill aims to enhance Arizona's legal framework to combat the fentanyl crisis and protect the state's interests.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 1-273, 36-116, 13-2301
House Engrossed Version: 1-273, 36-116, 13-2301